Ten on Tuesday, um, I mean Thursday

1. Livy has made it a week in panties!! And no accidents! I can hardly believe it is real. She wore a pull up to school today and kept it dry so she got her pick of toys at Target after school. It has been a week and that is what I had promised her, a new toy after the first week of dry panties. I am so proud of her and so happy I can't even explain!! I think school helped because she would see all the others going all the time and she was the only one in pull ups.
2. I am glad for these Ten on Tuesday postings because I have not been doing many others so I am glad to have something written down at least.
3. Colt had an allergic reaction to something he ate on Sunday. We made macaroni and cheese from a recipe we found and it must have been something it that, probably the eggs but maybe not. He has had eggs in other stuff so I don't know. He got hives on his face and a few on his arms and his eyes got all red and swollen. Luckily it didn't last too long and started turning around after about 20 minutes. It was scary though wondering how bad it was gonna get. He got an allergy blood test today at the doctors so we will see if it was eggs that he was allergic to. They had to stick him in both arms because his are was too chubby they couldn't find the vein, they said. Poor little guy. He was so upset, and Rachel cried the whole time too because she was sad for him.
4. The girls are so imaginative. They are always finding imaginary things while we are out and holding them and talking to them. A handful of tiny kittens, a bunch of bouncy balls, tiny pups they ask me to hold, etc. I love listening to them playing and the stuff they come up with. They are playing so good these days. What a blessing!  
5. Colt is 9 months old now and all over the place. He is pulling up on everything and now has let go and just stood there without holding onto anything for a few seconds. I am not ready for him to walk so I hope it takes a little longer. He is such a good baby still and makes all of us happy every time we see him. He loves imitating every sound you make. He loves following his sisters, flinging the door stoppers, climbing on Pebbles, playing in the playroom, eating, and going on walks. He weighs 22 lbs. 3 oz. He is 28.5 inches tall.
6. The weather here has been so nice this week. I love Texas at this time. I could use a few degrees cooler but I will take what I can get. It has been about 88 for the high each day. We have gotten lots of time in at the parks which we were greatly missing since we didn't go during the 105 degree days during summer. Another great thing about fall.
7. So many good things about this time of year. But Conference is one of my favorite. I look forward to the next one  as soon as one ends as lots of people probably do. I remember when my mom had to force us to listen to one session and I never understood how she wanted to listen to all of them. Now I understand. I can't say I get to listen to them all but I really would love to. What a great blessing we have to have a living prophet. Just think of the years on this earth that they didn't have one. I really enjoyed the Relief Society Conference this year as well. It is so inspiring to hear from our leaders and those chosen to speak to us.
8. Colt is slowly being weaned from breastfeeding. It took a while for him to take a bottle but now that I found one he likes he can't wait to get his hands on it. He gets so excited and upset if he doesn't get it right away. Right now I nurse him in the morning and at night and he takes a bottle during the day. It's nice. And great that we can leave him now if we want to go out and not worry about putting him to sleep before we go.
9. We are very excited about Halloween around here. Eric loves it and loves to decorate. He has lots of little battery operated creepy Halloween things. They girls of course love it and we are all so excited to have some visitors from New York for Halloween this year! Can't wait to see you guys and your costumes!
10. And Rachel just woke up from a nap puking. Lovely. Hope you all have a great week.

Playing airplane with the kids.

Trying to get up the stairs.


 

Chubby little hands. 


 

This Weeks Ten

1. Richie and Erin are having a boy!! I am so excited for them to have this little guy. And it will be fun for Colt to have another boy around when we are in NY.
2. "Can we go to bed hungry?" That is what they ask when they don't want to eat dinner. I guess some parents around here have been using the old adages a little to much!
3. Eric and I got new church callings. Eric got called to be a youth Sunday school teacher. He is ok with it. He doesn't like to teach much but he is glad it is a team teaching class so that he can still go to Austin some weekends. I got called to be the singing time person for nursery. I know, I wasn't really aware that this calling existed either.
4. Colt is trying to pull up everywhere and does it in his crib now. If he wakes up there is no chance of him going back to sleep because he stands up at the edge of the crib and cries until you come in there. The girls love going in to his room before me because he is fun to see now that he is standing there.
5. The other day Rachel said, "That is so interesting" while Eric and I were talking about something. We laughed at her because it was just funny coming out of her mouth so now she says, "That is the word that makes people laugh, interesting."
6. The girls are in love with these little puppies that they got from the toy vending machines at HEB. They are an excellent bribe for good behavior while we shop and they love them. They are kind of a pain to keep track of because they are so tiny. I found one in Colt's mouth this morning.
7. Livy made her first keep out sign this week, and it wasn't for Colt. She wrote her sign and taped it to the wall. It said "Pebbles can't come here and can't take my Dalmatians." I guess Pebbles was bothering her!
8. The girls, mostly Livy, call me Mother Bear now. They have been watching a Little Bear video that my mom got them and now they have taken to calling me Mother Bear. It's funny because it comes right out of her mouth so naturally, she doesn't miss a beat. And it's kinda sweet.
9. Football season is here. We know because every Saturday we lose Eric for a few hours to the Texas game. He wasn't an avid football watcher when we met but I am glad he has something he looks forward to and loves to watch, even if it is too long. He only likes college football though because he says they play like they care still. The pros get paid so they don't care as much any more.
10. Rachel has started napping again. Not everyday but most days she asks me to put her to bed. She fell asleep at the table the other day when Eric made her sit there until she ate, or fell asleep I guess!She is already realizing how wonderful naps are!

Two weekends ago at the lake. The kids loved hanging with Grandma and Grandpa. And Grandma and Grandpa whipped Eric and I in sequence. We need a rematch.

Colt exploring.

Livy helping me make brownies while Rachel napped.

He is loving the play room. So many things to see and eat! He doesn't even take a bottle but right when he saw this one he went for it and knew just what to do.

Rachel's table nap!

Father and son watching the tube. Colt won't sit this good for me.

Livy's "Pebbles can't come here" sign.

All the little pups in their sticky note tents.

This is what they each carry around. A set of choking hazards.

Cutie pie. Love this kid.

I asked for a silly face and I got the crazy arms.

She's done with my picture taking.

Livy's silly faces.

Sweet face. Love this kid too.

Little Buddy

Just some pictures of our growing boy! He is such a good baby still and just a happy little camper. Every few days he has a day where he doesn't want to nap, maybe an hour total all day, and those days are a little long but he is such a great little happy guy most of the time. He is all over the place and I found him crawling up the stairs by himself today.

He is in need of a hair cut but I don't want to cut that soft hair away. I wanted a few pictures to document his chubby baby self in fear of a slim down that will probably happen as he starts walking in the next few months. I love his rolls. He is just so adorable. He is waving now and clapping and copying every sound I make. He is excellent at "uh-oh."

He loves going in the playroom and seeing what he can find. He loves crawling to Pebbles bed, gross, and getting hair all over him. He also loves this rocking horse we have that is furry and bigger than him. I think he thinks it is a real dog. He loves his bath still and is attached to a travel size toothpaste and a bottle of eye drops. I have put new toys in there for him to play with but that is all he wants to play with everyday in the tub.

Love this one!

His hands don't just look big in this picture, they are big. I love them. I love him. His sisters are kind of enjoying his new mobility. They love that he is getting older and more fun but do not like that he comes and takes their stuff now or ruins how they have things set up. I kind of want him to stop growing! I love it now and will be sad when he is no longer a baby. He is already 9 months old!!! Where has it gone? Slow down please!

First Day of School

Rachel and Livy started Preschool on September 1st. They were happy to be going and went into the class room without a problem. They didn't seem that they would miss me which brought conflicting emotions on my part. I was of course trying to contain my tears while dropping them off, especially because there is a sign outside their room pretty much saying don't show them if you're sad! So a few tears came after when I got to the car. But I was also thrilled that they went without a problem and I didn't have to leave them there sad. I am so happy they have each other and the experience of Nursery at church to help them. I don't know why men don't seem to understand mother's tears though. Eric just doesn't get why I would cry at all when leaving them there. It's not that I was gonna miss them that much but it is just hard to explain. They are so grown up all the sudden and now I am not right there to look out for them. Lots of anxiety about all the normal things that will happen to them in their life that I know they will have to handle on their own. But just like all moms, I want to be there to handle the hard stuff for them, even though I know that is how they grow. Just happy and sad to see them go.

It was hard to get Livy's attention and we were almost gonna be late so this is all I got.

They liked going to the meet the teacher day and had fun playing in their room. Their teachers are Mrs. Frogge and Ms. Stacy. They both seem really nice. I think the fact that we only signed up a few days before school started was good for us. It didn't give any of us too much time to get too nervous.

Outside of school. Hard to get their attention though because there was so much going on. Rachel got a little nervous and said she didn't want to go in while we were in the car but once we got in the classroom she was fine.

This was when I picked them up from their first day. They both said they had so much fun and the best part was how happy they were to see me. I love you Rachel and Livy! I can't believe you are so grown up already and going to school!

Special after school snack. Ice cream pizzas! They loved them. We sat and they told me about their day. It was nice. But everyday since they ask where their special snack is!

Starting the third week and they are doing good. Rachel still likes me to walk into the room with her while she puts her stuff away but then she is good to go. Livy goes running in without looking back. I am happy they are happy there and I am for sure enjoying the few hours a week to get stuff done without too much interruption. Blogging, showering, food shopping, and occasionally exercising with only one kid instead of three is unbelievably easier!